Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

As imported by Ansett Pioneer for express work (with the small windows) this PD4107 was registered BGR 454.

27 PD4107 unit were imported by Ansett Pioneer new up to 1968. These units together with the PD4106 were powered by GM8V71 engines.

87.jpg (57.93 KiB) Viewed 10272 times

As they were replaced on express work by MC8's the PD4107 were diverted to tour work and had larger upright windows fitted. Seen here is ACT registered mo87.

TV634.jpg (48.86 KiB) Viewed 10310 times

A profile shot of the PD4106 with window modification, this unit being registered TV634.

634.jpg (45.26 KiB) Viewed 10310 times

Further service after Ansett Pioneer:

29.jpg (36.86 KiB) Viewed 10310 times

Murrays were the big purchaser of 2nd hand PD4107's from Ansett Pioneer. Seen here is MO29 which was used on their express service from Canberra to Wollongong and the NSW South Coast.

032.jpg (49.19 KiB) Viewed 10272 times

Another unit with Murrays was registered TV 032 for charter and tour work.

572.jpg (55.05 KiB) Viewed 10272 times

Murrays also ran TV572 around Sydney on their Thomas Cook contract.

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 1:39 pm

by Desto Dave

Anyone have any idea what was the purpose of the small window seen on the N/S above the air grille and also the O/S. Were these a destination display used in US based models? Just seems a strange location if it was.

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 2:23 pm

by system improver

Not for destos. Where fitted in the US, these were closer to the door. They were on both sides of the vehicles, here and in the US. PD 4106s seemed to have something similar, but more of a rectangular panel.

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 4:32 pm

by boronia

The a/c condensors were located in the grilled compartment below; the small panel was also something to do with the a/c, possibly a fresh air intake. In these buses, the a/c was ducted below the window line, rather than in the ceiling; there was also a heating system to warm the conditioned air in winter, the heating controls were under the seats near this opening.

Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 6:35 pm

by Ben O

Great stuff! I've always wanted to compile or see a list of disposals for these units, along with the MCIs and RFWs, but they were before my time.

Are there any operators in Australia who have these in service as 'vintage touring coaches'? I remember seeing a photo of one with Wayward Bus, NT, but I'm not sure if they use it or not?

Ben

Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2007 3:03 pm

by mrobsessed

Wow! MO 29 (103) was the first coach I ever drove! I love the way the spare wheel was stored behind the bumper bar, the layout of the dash, the way they handled the road... a real driver's coach, except maybe the solenoid activated reverse gear and the lack of a clutch brake.

Considering what was available on the Australian market at the time, there was no competition.

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:42 pm

by gregrudd

mrobsessed wrote:Wow! MO 29 (103) was the first coach I ever drove! I love the way the spare wheel was stored behind the bumper bar, the layout of the dash, the way they handled the road... a real driver's coach, except maybe the solenoid activated reverse gear and the lack of a clutch brake.

Considering what was available on the Australian market at the time, there was no competition.

So, when these came out on the Australian Market your main choices for coaches would have been either a Leyland ERT/Leopard/Panther (With either syncro or mono control/peumocyclic) and the early offerings by either Volvo/MB or the Japs

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:24 pm

by boronia

Centralian wrote:Ansett Pioneer part 4 - the PD4107:

Murrays were the big purchaser of 2nd hand PD4107's from Ansett Pioneer. Seen here is MO29 which was used on their express service from Canberra to Wollongong and the NSW South Coast.

This one did not get the "picture windows" conversion; Murrays got 2 or 3 of these, one was never registered but was stripped for spare parts.

Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:36 pm

by boronia

mrobsessed wrote: I love the way the spare wheel was stored behind the bumper bar, the layout of the dash, the way they handled the road... a real driver's coach, except maybe the solenoid activated reverse gear and the lack of a clutch brake.

Considering what was available on the Australian market at the time, there was no competition.

Got to agree there Mr O. 20 years down the track, and I still regard them as the best coach I've driven.

That reverse took a bit of getting used to at first, but only a problem when it wouldn't come out of reverse.

They did have a clutch brake, but it wore out of adjustment pretty quick. THis made it hard to get into first when stationary There were a couple, the only way you could do it, was to turn off the engine first. Apart from that I never used the clutch.

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:18 pm

by Herbert

Centralian wrote:Ansett Pioneer part 4 - the PD4107:As imported by Ansett Pioneer for express work (with the small windows) this PD4107 was registered BGR 454.

27 PD4107 unit were imported by Ansett Pioneer new up to 1968. These units together with the PD4106 were powered by GM8V71 engines.

As they were replaced on express work by MC8's the PD4107 were diverted to tour work and had larger upright windows fitted. Seen here is ACT registered mo87.

A profile shot of the PD4106 with window modification, this unit being registered TV634.

Further service after Ansett Pioneer:

Murrays were the big purchaser of 2nd hand PD4107's from Ansett Pioneer. Seen here is MO29 which was used on their express service from Canberra to Wollongong and the NSW South Coast.

Another unit with Murrays was registered TV 032 for charter and tour work.

Murrays also ran TV572 around Sydney on their Thomas Cook contract.

Apologies for quoting an old thread, but...(a) isn't it great seeing these photos again?(b) I was wondering whether anyone (eg MrO) was able to confirm whether MO29 Murrays (103) was this unit at Yornup:

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 7:06 am

by system improver

And on the 23rd November, at the HCVC Display at Sandown in Melbourne, you will see one restored to all its former glory - including original Pioneer Express livery. My number one favorite coach. It will look a bit like this:

The original pictures on this thread have disapppeared. I wonder if a bit of repair work can be done.

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 3:28 pm

by The Cap a tan

system improver wrote:The original pictures on this thread have disapppeared. I wonder if a bit of repair work can be done.

The original pics still appear in Herberts quote of the original post. They just take a little while to appear.

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 5:54 pm

by system improver

Invicta Driver wrote:

system improver wrote:The original pictures on this thread have disapppeared. I wonder if a bit of repair work can be done.

The original pics still appear in Herberts quote of the original post. They just take a little while to appear.

Yes, you are correct. I assumed they were additional pics, but Herbert must have made a little adjustment to make them appear.

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 9:38 am

by Centralian

Here are those PD4107images from my original post, plus a couple of extras. If anyone is interested in any other previous posts I've done and the images are lost, bring the thread up and I'll re-post the photos. Cheers !

BGR454 at St Peters depot..jpg

As imported by Ansett Pioneer for express work (with the small windows) this PD4107 was registered BGR 454.27 PD4107 unit were imported by Ansett Pioneer new up to 1968. These units together with the PD4106 were powered by GM8V71 engines.

act mo87.jpg

As they were replaced on express work by MC8's the PD4107 were diverted to tour work and had larger upright windows fitted. Seen here is ACT registered mo87.

TV634.jpg

profile of TV634.jpg

A profile shot of the PD4106 with window modification, this unit being registered TV634.

ACT mo29.jpg

Murrays were the big purchaser of 2nd hand PD4107's from Ansett Pioneer. Seen here is MO29 which was used on their express service from Canberra to Wollongong and the NSW South Coast.

TV032.jpg

Another unit with Murrays was registered TV 032 for charter and tour work.

ACT MO88.jpg

TV572.jpg

Murrays also ran TV572 around Sydney on their Thomas Cook contract.

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:11 pm

by mrobsessed

Apologies for quoting an old thread, but...(a) isn't it great seeing these photos again?(b) I was wondering whether anyone (eg MrO) was able to confirm whether MO29 Murrays (103) was this unit at Yornup:

[/color]

I think that one was 105. It did the Canberra - Narooma evening service. They are my all time favourite coach as well, and my first experience of a crash box. His colection of PD4106 and PD4107s and his Commer Knocker did invoke an obsessed response! I love yards full of old stuff!

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:01 pm

by boronia

As best I can remember Murrays had only 3 of the unmodified 4107s. Two were used for the Wollongong and Narooma services, the third was never registered and was used for spare parts. They were numbered consecutively after the charter coaches (the highest number was the wreck). So the two service vehicles would have to have been 103 and 104, or 104 and 105.

The Thomas Cook units were 100 and 101. TV-572 was one of the old style plates, acquired from Canberra Coaches in 1981, it was later reregistered into the new low number series, probably TV-030

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 10:54 am

by Clipper owner

I know this discussion goes way back but I couldn't help but bring it back up and try to invoke some more conversation. There were some great photos posted and comments made. As I mentioned in another thread:

Late last year I became the owner of a GM PD-4107 converted to a motorhome. For those in the know or with an interest in numbers it is the very last 4107 imported by Ansett in 1968. It was Ansett Pioneers fleet no 727 from '68 through till 1982 when it was sold to Murrays of Canberra and became their fleet no 104. A great testimate to the build of these vehicles is the condition of this coach after 40 plus years and millions of miles, it's incredible. There is really no sign of frame fatigue and all the bin catches etc all still work like new. If this coach rings a bell to anyone out there of memories behind the wheel I would love to hear from you and am also searching for photos of it either in Pioneer or Murrays livery. I think they looked great in Murrays colours and while I have managed to get hold of somes pics of their 4107's none have been of my own.

It's build no is 1215 and is one of the unmodified X Murrays vehicles eg: still has it's original windows.Murrays rego reportedly: MO-28(ACT).Pioneer rego's: SA RCY-673, VIC KKO-054, another I have is NSW MO-9518.It's seems my coach was camera shy as I previously mentioned I have gathered up some great photos, many of which were posted on this forum but none carry these rego's.

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 8:49 am

by Centralian

I've now re-attached my original images to this post. Will do the same to the other Parts to this collection once I can find them in the archives.

Re: Once upon a time ------- Ansett Pioneer Part 4

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 2:58 pm

by benz 2

Hey guys, just re the old Murrays pd4107s, to the best of my recollection, having been based in Canberra during the "Jumbo Period" the fleet included: 91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98 ,99 & 102 had the large "tour" windows, and were painted in Murrays fleet colours,100&101,were same spec but painted in Thomas Cook colours[ orange and white] . 103, 104 & 105, had original pd4107 spec, 103 being used on the Wollongong to Canberra service & 104 & 105 were used on the Canberra to Narooma service.Unit 106 sat as a "donor" vehicle for spares,and to my knowledge was never registered in the Murrays fleet. Originally 95,97,98,99,100&101were Sydney based vehicles, but gradually as the Sydney fleet was updated they were transferred to the Canberra operation.At that time, mid to late 1980s my allocated vehicle was 93, and what a fantastic vehicle it was!! Very fond memories of that period of my driving career.. was more than a little sad when I got allocated 217,a new scania 113. With a strong preference for the good old GM, it wasnt long before I took over unit 241, a 2nd hand Tourmaster Murrays acquired from Express company Olympic East West. Hope this waffle clarrifies some questions, cheers Benz 2